World War Z: The Complete Edition

An Oral History of the Zombie War

By: Max Brooks

Narrated by: Max Brooks, Alan Alda, John Turturro, Rob Reiner, Mark Hamill, Alfred Molina, Simon Pegg, Henry Rollins, Martin Scorsese

Length: 12 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

Audie Award Winner, Multi-Voiced Performance, 2014

World War Z: The Complete Edition (Movie Tie-in Edition): An Oral History of the Zombie War is a new version of Max Brooks' episodic zombie novel. The abridged versions of the original stories are now joined with new, unabridged recordings of the episodes that were not included in the original (abridged) version of the audiobook. These additional episodes feature a star-studded cast of narrators to coincide with the upcoming release of the film.

New narrators include Academy Award-winning director Martin Scorsese, Spiderman star Alfred Molina, The Walking Dead creator Frank Darabont, rapper Common, Firefly star Nathan Fillion, Shaun of the Dead's Simon Pegg, and members of the casts of Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, Heroes and more! Max Brooks will be reprising his role as The Interviewer.

The original abridged edition, released in 2006, won an Audie Award for Best Multi-Voiced Performance. Original cast members include Alan Alda, Mark Hamill, Carl & Rob Reiner, and John Turturro.

In this new classic of apocalyptic fiction that feels all too real, the Zombie War came unthinkably close to eradicating humanity. The documentary-style oral history records the testimony of men, women, and sometimes children who came face-to-face with the living, or at least the undead, hell of that dreadful time.

Featuring five more hours of previously unrecorded content, this full-cast recording is read by F. Murray Abraham, Alan Alda, René Auberjonois, Becky Ann Baker, Dennis Boutsikaris, Bruce Boxleitner, Max Brooks, Nicki Clyne, Common, Denise Crosby, Frank Darabont, Dean Edwards, Mark Hamill, Nathan Fillion, Maz Jobrani, Frank Kamai, Michelle Kholos, John McElroy, Ade M’Cormack, Alfred Molina, Parminder Nagra, Ajay Naidu, Masi Oka, Steve Park, Kal Penn, Simon Pegg, Jürgen Prochnow, Carl Reiner, Rob Reiner, Henry Rollins, Jeri Ryan, Jay O. Sanders, Martin Scorsese, Paul Sorvino, David Ogden Stiers, Brian Tee, John Turturro, Eamonn Walker, Ric Young, and Waleed Zuaiter.

©2006 Max Brooks (P)2012 Random House

Critic reviews

"What happens after the end of the world as we know it? Humanity rebuilds, and Kirby Impoinvil (Max Brooks) is there to help survivors make sense of what happened the day the zombies came. Helping author Brooks is a host of family friends, including Alan Alda, Nathan Fillion, Paul Sorvino, Rob Reiner, Carl Reiner, Simon Pegg, John Turturro, and many others. This audio production was released to coincide with the movie of the same name. That it’s a real drama is not surprising given the stellar cast. They don't just read the book, they act it out. And don’t think this is a teen thriller. The zombies serve as a backdrop to the larger story of how humankind reacts to such an unexpected and catastrophic invasion and the inevitable conclusion that millions must be sacrificed to save the rest. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2014. Audies Finalist." (AudioFile magazine)

A true masterpiece of alternative history, I hope.

I hope it is alternative and never comes to ...death. The performances are excellent, the story unfolds a little scattershot but that emphasizes the total world war that it portrays. Max Brooks creates a world that is once horror and damned interesting. I listen to books while I walk for exercise. I found myself walking an extra two hours a day because I just had to continue on with the book. I would only stop because I realized I wanted to save the rest for the next day. Every one of the cast was brilliant, their voices imparting their part of the story as authentic and real. Highly recommend this to anyone with a sci-fi or horror interest.

Excellent

I highly recommend this book. The story has eerie since of reality now, because of COVID-19. A lot of fun to listen to.

The new stories didn’t add anything

I gotta be honest. I could have done without some of the stories, and I could see why they were removed originally. Still loved it though

Almost reAl!

The best audio book I have ever listened to. Highly recommended makes you want to have an elevated house inside a walled parameter and carry a lobo

Better than the Real News

What did you love best about World War Z: The Complete Edition (Movie Tie-in Edition)?

I loved the voice actors. This is my first audiobook in awhile and now I don't even know what to listen to now because it was so good and nothing will ever be the same now. All the characters were so alive! This was especially important because of the nature of the book. World War Z: an Oral History of the Zombie War is the full title, so naturally, the best way to read this book is via the audiobook. I have neither read the book or seen the movie, so unfortunately I don't know how it compares.

What did you like best about this story?

You know when you're in the car and you're trying to listen to the news but they're doing a special on the most boring thing you've ever heard of? This is the opposite of that. It's pretend journalism. So it's always interesting! And you may find yourself driving past your exit or running an extra mile (or two. extra fast. zombies are coming!) because you're so invested in the story.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, but then I made myself stop and it made the world of the story a little harder to dive back into. I'm not sure if the book was actually this unbalanced, but I've always had a hard time with short stories because I like to follow one characters journey instead of stories of people who tell a bigger story...which is what this does. I think a one sitting listen might be a better way to listen to it.

Best audible book I've listen

This is the best book I've listen. The audio is completely immersive and made me feel as the entire war had actually happened. I wish we had more books coming with this same production level.

Loved it! I woke up at 5 am just to listen to!

What made the experience of listening to World War Z: The Complete Edition (Movie Tie-in Edition) the most enjoyable?

What can I say a great cast with a great story makes a near perfect listen.

What did you like best about this story?

Everything

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Any additional comments?

Loved it, first review, and my first audible preorder

Awesome book. One of my favorites

The unabridged version has some great gap fillers that flesh out other things you hear in the presentation. I have listened to this book a half dozen times and I keep coming back to it.

Great listening

It does take on a 'history' feel with the way the stories are told. Not to say that it is dusty and laborious to go through but it does seem real as if these are actual stories from actual people that lived through the zombie apocalypse.
Remember that apocalypse does not mean an end but revelation.

Good stuff

I really enjoyed the book. Seeing the movie first it was a whole new story and characters.